France’s tighthead concerns are about to be sorted for the 2024 Six Nations as Uini Atonio has had a change of heart and decided not to retire from international rugby after all. The 33-year-old prop had initially announced his retirement following the Rugby World Cup disappointment, but it seems that head coach Fabien Galthie has managed to convince him to reverse his decision.
According to reports from French publication L’Equipe, Atonio, who has become a crucial part of the Les Bleus’ squad, has been persuaded by Galthie to continue playing for the national team. During Galthie’s reign, the La Rochelle star has established himself as one of the best tightheads in the world, excelling in both scrummaging and loose play.
The French team’s set-piece suffered in the World Cup quarter-final defeat to South Africa after Atonio was substituted, highlighting his importance to the squad. With Atonio available for the Six Nations, France now has the opportunity to develop depth in the tighthead position and groom potential successors.
While Dorian Aldegheri is a dependable scrummager, he may not possess the top-class talent required to be the first-choice tighthead in the future. Sipili Falatea, who was the backup to Atonio in the Six Nations, has faced concerns about his scrummaging, although he is showing improvement in that area.
The coaching staff, led by Galthie, will aim to refine Falatea’s scrummaging skills over the next four-year cycle. Additionally, Demba Bamba, a highly talented player, has struggled with scrummaging, which has hindered his progress at the highest level. If Bamba can demonstrate proficiency in this aspect of the game, he could emerge as France’s solution at tighthead, given his effectiveness in loose play.
With Atonio’s return, France can address the depth issues in the tighthead position and work towards building a strong and competitive squad for the upcoming Six Nations and beyond.